Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Bio balls
hi just wondering where do you buy bio balls i see in the aquarium shops 20 for $5.00 i need enough to fill a 200 litre wheelie bin i already have some but need more or do you have other suggestions

Scrub pads from 'B'?

Cheap as chips!

+1 I used a mix of scourer pads and bio ball in my Bio filter for the fish pond. worked an absoulute treat and as Blue thumb said cheap!

You can but the multi coloured pack or if you go to the hire section they have the larger pads for the floor polishers, not sure what the price I only saw them there the other day.

Or you could try a cleaning supply shop for the larger pads.

The going thong abut the larger pads is you can have them as a whole layer, were with the little pads you need to criss cross them.

We get it at work 150mm wide in a 10mt roll maybe an automotive spray shop or industrial supply shop??

... Or buy a 25-50m roll of 19mm poly. Cut it into small rings - like a cheezel - and use them. You may fill your bin for @ $20. Again, a trip to 'B' - but you'll have several options instore and you can do the cost benefit analysis onsite when armed with the right information!

BTx

Or if you really want bio balls there is always ebay

http://shop.ebay.com.au/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3984.m570.l1313&_nkw=bio+balls&_sacat=See-All-Categories

Better deal...

http://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/cata ... 69&catID=9

Or even these...

http://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/cata ... 74&catID=9

k1 kaldness 50L worth.
$137
http://www.aquariumproducts.com.au have a price match policy and beat it by 10%.
$7.50 delivery.

for the really cheap, I've been collecting plastic drink and water bottle caps as I thrown the bottles into the recycling bin.

Perhaps the bottle caps are not the best choice for how I'm currently using them (floating in the top of the water chestnut bin exposed to light) but they are controlling algae a bit and the water chestnuts in that bin are actually growing better than the others.

Kaldnes is the bees knees.... but best in fluid/moving bed filters...

Not sure what F&F has in mind... but a 1000 bio-balls would probably be better than 50L of the kaldness... in a 200L barrel...

Hair rollers are also good, can sometimes find them in second hand stores and two dollar shops.

Or attached to old ladies

Stay tuned all will be revealed soon

What about the plastic chicken wire rolls at B?

They come in 3 metre rolls I think with smal square meshing in plastic. Roll it up tightly and you have your filtering and bacterial surface.